A classification tree based modeling approach for segment related crashes on multilane highways

Introduction

This study presents a classification tree based alternative to crash frequency analysis for analyzing crashes on mid-block segments of multilane arterials.

Method

The traditional approach of modeling counts of crashes that occur over a period of time works well for intersection crashes where each intersection itself provides a well-defined unit over which to aggregate the crash data. However, in the case of mid-block segments the crash frequency based approach requires segmentation of the arterial corridor into segments of arbitrary lengths. In this study we have used random samples of time, day of week, and location (i.e., milepost) combinations and compared them with the sample of crashes from the same arterial corridor. For crash and non-crash cases, geometric design/roadside and traffic characteristics were derived based on their milepost locations. The variables used in the analysis are non-event specific and therefore more relevant for roadway safety feature improvement programs. First classification tree model is a model comparing all crashes with the non-crash data and then four groups of crashes (rear-end, lane-change related, pedestrian, and single-vehicle/off-road crashes) are separately compared to the non-crash cases. The classification tree models provide a list of significant variables as well as a measure to classify crash from non-crash cases. ADT along with time of day/day of week are significantly related to all crash types with different groups of crashes being more likely to occur at different times.

Conclusions

From the classification performance of different models it was apparent that using non-event specific information may not be suitable for single vehicle/off-road crashes.

Impact on Industry

The study provides the safety analysis community an additional tool to assess safety without having to aggregate the corridor crash data over arbitrary segment lengths.     

Improving construction site safety through leader-based verbal safety communication

Background

The construction industry is one of the most injury-prone industries, in which production is usually prioritized over safety in daily on-site communication. Workers have an informal and oral culture of risk, in which safety is rarely openly expressed. This paper tests the effect of increasing leader-based on-site verbal safety communication on the level of safety and safety climate at construction sites. Method: A pre-post intervention-control design with five construction work gangs is carried out. Foremen in two intervention groups are coached and given bi-weekly feedback about their daily verbal safety communications with their workers. Foremen-worker verbal safety exchanges (experience sampling method, n = 1,693 interviews), construction site safety level (correct vs. incorrect, n = 22,077 single observations), and safety climate (seven dimensions, n = 105 questionnaires) are measured over a period of up to 42 weeks. Results: Baseline measurements in the two intervention and three control groups reveal that foremen speak with their workers several times a day. Workers perceive safety as part of their verbal communication with their foremen in only 6-16% of exchanges, and the levels of safety at the sites range from 70-87% (correct observations). Measurements from baseline to follow-up in the two intervention groups reveal that safety communication between foremen and workers increases significantly in one of the groups (factor 7.1 increase), and a significant yet smaller increase is found when the two intervention groups are combined (factor 4.6). Significant increases in the level of safety are seen in both intervention groups (7% and 12% increases, respectively), particularly in regards to 'access ways' and 'railings and coverings' (39% and 84% increases, respectively). Increases in safety climate are seen in only one of the intervention groups with respect to their 'attention to safety.' No significant trend changes are seen in the three control groups on any of the three measures. Conclusions: Coaching construction site foremen to include safety in their daily verbal exchanges with workers has a significantly positive and lasting effect on the level of safety, which is a proximal estimate for work-related accidents. It is recommended that future studies include coaching and feedback at all organizational levels and for all involved parties in the construction process. Building client regulations could assign the task of coaching to the client appointed safety coordinators or a manager/supervisor, and studies should measure longitudinal effects of coaching by following foremen and their work gangs from site to site.     

Effect of enhanced seat belt reminders on driver fatality risk

Objective

Enhanced seat belt reminders in automobiles have been shown to increase belt use rates by approximately 3 percentage points. The objective of this study was to estimate the effect of enhanced seat belt reminders on driver fatality risk.

Method

Data included all passenger vehicle driver deaths and vehicle registration counts in the United States for calendar years 2000-2007. Driver fatality rates per vehicle registration per year were compared for otherwise identical vehicle models with and without enhanced seat belt reminders.

Results

Driver fatality rates were 6% lower for vehicles with enhanced seat belt reminders compared with vehicles without enhanced belt reminders. After adjusting for vehicle age differences, the estimated effect of enhanced belt reminders on driver fatality risk ranged from a 9% reduction for General Motors vehicles to a 2% increase for Honda vehicles. Combining all manufacturers, enhanced belt reminders reduced fatality risk by approximately 2%. Although not statistically significant, the 2% reduction in fatality risk agrees with what should be expected from a 3 percentage point increase in seat belt use rates.

Conclusions

Enhanced seat belt reminders have raised driver belt use rates and reduced fatality rates, but more aggressive systems may be needed for some drivers. It can be inferred that nonfatal injury rates also have been reduced.

Impact on Industry

Manufacturers should be encouraged to put enhanced seat belt reminders on all vehicles as soon as possible.     

创建矿业安全卫生法 保护矿工生命健康权

通过对比分析可知,现行《矿山安全法》的根本目的不是矿山职业安全,而是为了矿山生产安全和促进采矿业发展,并且缺少保护矿工健康权的规定。民国时期的《矿场法》属于可以继承的矿业安全与健康立法,并有多数国家制定的《矿业安全与健康法》可供借鉴。可以得出结论:以效率为本向以人为本的转变和落实,必须依靠法律制度的固定和保障;人们健康安全需要层次的提升是制度变迁的动因;我国缺乏保障矿工基本人权的《矿业安全与健康法》而出现制度断层。     

北京市道路交通安全现状分析及控制策略研究

在分析北京市道路交通安全形势以及事故特点的基础上,运用交通冲突理论分析道路交通事故发生的机理,论述道路交通事故发生的过程。并从安全系统工程学角度,使用交通事故显性/隐性致因模型对道路交通事故的致因因素进行分析,强调管理因素的重要性。最后,结合北京市道路交通现状,综合运用3E对策,讨论了改善道路交通安全的控制策略。通过加大违章行为惩罚力度、培养安全文化、建立道路交通事故应急救援体系以及应用智能交通技术等措施,消除道路交通系统中人的不安全行为和物的不安全状态,提高北京市道路交通安全水平。     

工厂三维建模及其事故模拟

利用Microstation软件对某化工厂区进行三维建模,在考虑实际外界风向、风速,不同点火源位置等重要影响因素的条件下,运用计算流体动力学(CFD)软件FLACS,研究了有毒、易燃易爆的氯乙烯液化气体储罐安全阀气体泄漏和储罐底部物料管线液态氯乙烯的泄漏、蒸发、扩散和爆炸作用等过程,计算结果可以给出氯乙烯火灾、爆炸或扩散中毒等事故后果的影响范围和相关精确物理量。模拟结果表明,对于常温下的氯乙烯液化气体球罐,球罐安全阀泄漏后罐区及周边不会有燃烧或爆炸危险;而物料管线在特定的液相泄漏情景下,蒸发扩散的氯乙烯气云则有可能发生气云爆炸;但在弱约束条件下,爆炸冲击波作用比较微弱。该研究方法及其结果可以为石油化工企业选址、设计布局、安全规划、风险分析、应急救援及事故调查等提供更加准确的依据。     

PBXN-5传爆药安全可靠性试验方法研究

为满足引信传爆序列对高可靠性、高安全性火工药剂的需求,通过小隔板试验及升降法试验对PBXN-5传爆药的输出能力和冲击波感度作了分析和研究,小样本试验发现:当施主药柱装药相同,随施主与受主间隔板厚度增加,可靠起爆概率明显降低;但随受主药柱的装药尺寸的减小,传爆概率却增大。总之,受主药柱直径越小,隔板越薄,使用可靠性越高,结合安全使用性,计算得到合适的可靠度数据,为微型火工品装药提供参数依据。     

由53起较大以上事故探讨农产品加工企业风险特征

系统检索并整理了自2001年以来,我国发生在农产品加工行业的53起较大以上事故,从事故类型、企业产品类型、承包商、施救不当和年度事故分布等角度对这些事故进行分析。结果表明,农产品加工企业事故风险具有一定的行业特点,主要表现在中毒窒息事故比较多,因施救不当而导致事故扩大的问题比较突出;粮食和酒精、养殖、饲料和腌渍制品企业风险相对较高。分析结果对指导企业如何防止较大以上事故具有重要的指导意义。     

现代环形交叉口安全性分析和安全设计

传统环形交叉口存在很多缺点,而国外目前采用一种现代环形交叉口替代传统环形交叉口,其安全性大大提高。根据冲突点数目采用理论安全影响分析法,再根据实际交通事故数据采用前后对比法,分析现代环形交叉口对车辆和弱势群体的安全影响。结果显示现代环形交叉口提高了汽车运行的安全性,但是在改善行人和自行车交通安全性方面却不如信号交叉口。最后,提出现代环形交叉口的适用条件、设计要点,以及自行车道安全设计方法。     

企业安全生产信息管理系统构建研究

针对我国目前安全生产信息化建设和安全生产现状,论述我国安全生产信息化建设所取得的进展及存在的主要问题,提出安全生产管理信息系统建立的基础、程序及系统设置框架,并将安全生产管理信息系统的框架分为数据层、技术层、业务层、接口层4个层次,针对每一层次功能设定进行分析。最后认为:构建安全信息系统时,需客观分析企业安全管理现状,评估构建安全信息系统的目标的合理性,逐步完善企业安全信息系统,从而为企业预防事故发生,提高企业安全生产管理水平提供重要手段。